The Dutch have made it to their third World Cup Final after overcoming a spirited Uruguay side who were, for the last ten minutes of what proved to be an overlong match thanks to the unexpected presence of the Old Trafford Clock, without their talismanic striker, and joint top-scorer for the tournament, Diego Forlan. Forlan had, earlier in the night, lashed in a first half equaliser after a 41 yard strike from unlikely hero, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst.
Going in at 1-1 at the break must have heartened the Uruguayans who were in the ascendency. But, half way through the second half, Wesley Sneijder scored his second deflected goal in as many matches in a play that had Robin Van Persie in a dubiously offside position: Van Persie’s trailing leg was offside at the time of Sneijder’s strike and his movement, which in real-time looked to be an attempt on the ball, should have deemed him active and thus negated the goal. However, replays show that Van Persie may have been attempting to get out of the way of the ball, but even if that was the case, his presence in an offside position must surely have hindered the keeper’s chances of saving the errant ball.
Either way, Holland looked to have atoned for their luck when, less than ten minutes later, Arjen Robben scored with his head after a pinpoint cross from Dirk Kuyt (who should, in this writer’s humble opinion, be considered for player of the tournament) found him alone in the box. Robben’s superbly angled header touched the inside of the post as it squirmed in and looked to have booked the Dutch a certain appearance in the greatest game in football.
But Uruguay did not give-in. With the clock on 91 minutes of an expected 93 to be played, a trick free-kick resulted in a powerful swerving shot finding a new home in the back of the Dutch goal – 3-2 with 90 seconds to play. Only there weren’t 90 seconds, but a further 3 minutes thanks to some suspicious time-keeping from the referee. Over those extra seconds, the Uruguayans peppered the Dutch goal with shots and the Orangemen defended desperately; clinging to a lead that, just moments before, had seemed insurmountable.
As vicious as Uruguay’s attempts to equalise were, the Netherlands held on and will now face the winner of Germany and Spain who play tonight.
As a confessed fan of the Dutch I cannot be sad at this result, but I am sorry to see Uruguay go home: they have brought life and passion to this tournament and embody the necessities of hard-work and luck in making it to the final four. Forlan can hold his head up high for leading this team so far. La Celeste will be sorely missed.
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